Chhapra: Balu Majdoor Dasarath Rai, a resident of Gadhka Prakhand, is a man with a passion for environmental conservation. In his lifetime, he has planted over 35,000 trees, transforming the area into a lush green paradise. Despite working as a laborer for five days a week, Dasarath dedicates two days to planting trees for environmental protection. However, in his old age, Dasarath is currently ill and in need of medical treatment, but he has no one to support him during these difficult times. Nevertheless, a few individuals have made attempts to help him in their own capacity. It is worth mentioning that Dasarath Rai has been honored by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
Dasarath Rai comes from an ordinary family and has had a desire to live among trees since childhood. Seeing neglected trees and plants would upset him. Later, he started planting these trees in the right places. For people who walk on the road or work in the fields, nothing is better than the shade of a tree. Dasarath’s dream is to provide tree shade for pedestrians near all public places. Slowly, this became his habit.
Once, near the Dumri-Juara railway station in Chhapra, he asked the gatekeeper for a bucket to water his own planted trees. However, the gatekeeper insulted him. But Dasarath, who firmly believed in his cause, stood his ground and the conversation escalated. When the gatekeeper mentioned that many people talk like this for a bucket, Dasarath took off his upper clothes and handed them over to the gatekeeper, saying that he will get them back once he returns the bucket. Eventually, his planted trees received water, bringing satisfaction to Dasarath’s heart.
Dasarath Rai, a resident of Pran Rai Tola in Kothiya village under Gadhka Prakhand, works hard to support his family, but he never forgets to give five days to his family and two days to planting trees. Even when he falls ill, he takes out time for the trees. His wife and two sons also support him in this work, despite his wife suffering from cervical spondylitis.
For the past month, Dasarath Rai’s health has deteriorated, and he was struggling for life at home. In such a situation, Shriram Tiwari, the secretary of Chirand Development Committee, provided him with some financial assistance and arranged for his admission to a private hospital for treatment. Dasarath Rai says that it would be good if the government provides some help, but he has no complaints against anyone. In 2012, the Forest and Environment Department honored Dasarath Rai, and this honor was given by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar himself.
छपरा के बालू मजदूर दशरथ राय पर पर्यावरण सुरक्षा का एक जुनून चढ़ा हुआ है। उन्होंने अपने जीवन काल में 35000 से ज्यादा वृक्ष लगाकर इलाके को हरा-भरा बना दिया है। वह हर सप्ताह में 5 दिन मजदूरी करते हैं और 2 दिन पर्यावरण सुरक्षा के लिए वृक्ष लगाने में देते हैं। इन दिनों दशरथ राय बीमार हैं और इलाज की जरूरत है, लेकिन उनके साथ कोई नहीं है। उन्हें मुख्यमंत्री नीतीश कुमार ने सम्मानित किया है। दशरथ राय की पत्नी और दो लड़के भी उनका सहयोग करते हैं, जबकि पत्नी सर्वाइकल स्पौन्डिलाइटिस की मरीज हैं। तबीयत बिगड़ने के कारण उन्हें इलाज के लिए अस्पताल में भर्ती कराया गया है। 2012 में उन्हें वन पर्यावरण विभाग ने सम्मानित किया था।
